Tattoos are decorative, symbolic, or aesthetic.
People get tattoos for self-expression, cultural or religious significance, remembering an event or loved one, or simply because they like art.
Tattoos are still prohibited in some societies despite their ancient history.
Gang tattoos may include symbols, numbers, or imagery representative of the group. These tattoos show gang loyalty, rank, or intimidate rival gangs or authorities.
Beware these common gang tattoos.
Neo-Nazis and white supremacists associate with “14” and “88”. Members of the Aryan Brotherhood often tattoo these numbers.
The spiderweb tattoo is often done on the elbow or neck. People equate it with prison culture. Each part of the web can represent a year in prison.
Spiderweb tattoos are not always criminal. People buy it because they like the design.
Each person and culture interprets the teardrop tattoo differently, but it is often associated with criminal behavior and violence, especially murder.
“Three Dots” Tattoo may represent “mi vida loca,” which means “my crazy life” in Spanish, and gang culture or crime. It can also represent “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.”
The five-dot tattoo, or “quincunx,” has four dots on the corners and one in the center. In prison culture, it might represent a criminal’s life.
The “MS” tattoo usually stands for “Mara Salvatrucha,” or MS-13, a notorious and organized El Salvadoran criminal gang. The “MS” tattoo is worn by gang members and associates to show loyalty.
It’s normal to be apprehensive of persons with criminal gang tattoos, although not all are criminals. Appearance should not determine judgment.
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